3 reasons why Washington Sundar is the ideal Ravindra Jadeja successor for India in T20Is
Reigning T20 World champions India defeated Zimbabwe in the final T20I in Harare to win the series 4-1. Washington Sundar turned out to be the wrecker-in-chief for India in the bowling department and finished the series with eight wickets to his name. On the back of his stupendous performance all through the series, Sundar was named as the Player of the Series.
Just after winning the T20 World Cup in West Indies, India were shocked by Zimbabwe in the opening match of the five-match affair. Despite a brilliant bowling performance from the Men in Blue, it was a below-par showing with the bat that cost them, as they couldn't chase down the target of 116. Yet again Washington Sundar was in the forefront and waged a lone battle towards the end but couldn't quite take India over the line.
The Indian team blew Zimbabwe away by 100 runs in the second T20I and there was no looking back ever since. They went from strength to strength and despite fielding a relatively inexperienced side, most of them showed their mettle at the highest level. It is a testament that Indian cricket is in safe hands in this format after the retirements of stalwarts like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja.
Sundar has been around the selection radar for a long time now and since Jadeja has hung up his boots in the shortest format, the former seems to have all the bases covered to become an ideal replacement for Jadeja. Having said that, let us have a look at three possible reasons why Sundar is the ideal replacement for Jadeja in the T20 format.
#1 Washington Sundar has the skill sets to bowl at any time in the match
Sundar's ability to bowl at any phase of the game makes him a go-to bowler for any captain in this format. He can be a handful in the powerplay and among those very few spinners who have the guile and temperament to bowl with just two fielders outside the thirty-yard circle.
He can control the game in the middle overs and wickets are a byproduct of the pressure he inserts at that stage of the game. He is very adaptable and can even bowl in the death overs if required. He didn't play too many matches in the recently concluded IPL but he is on the way to permanently cementing his spot in the Indian T20 side.
#2 Sundar is adaptable in the batting department as well
Another massive attribute that makes Sundar a perfect T20 player is his ability with the bat. He is not one of those sloggers coming late in the batting order. He is a technically sound batter and we have witnessed his skill sets in the longest format of the game. He is unfazed by any top-class bowler and can bat in any position.
He has occasionally opened for his franchise and in domestic cricket. He also bats in the middle order and has played the role of a finisher to a nicety. Sundar has got all the shots to become a top T20I batter. If the cover drives, off drives, and the straight drives are not enough to prove his mettle, he also has the fancy scoops and ramps up his sleeve.
#3 Washington Sundar is one of the safest fielders going around
When you replace someone of the caliber of Ravindra Jadeja in the Indian team, it's not only about batting and bowling you are replacing. You are also replacing one of the greatest fielders of all time. What Jadeja achieved as a fielder alone in all formats of the game is simply staggering.
While Sundar might not be as electric as Jadeja, he is certainly one of the better ones in the Indian team. He is a safe catcher and also a good ground fielder. Given the similar skill sets to Ravindra Jadeja, Sundar could well be the ideal replacement for India going forward.